KidsFest 2016: I Believe in Unicorns {Giveaway}

It’s January, which means it’s time for KidsFest 2016!

This annual series of quality theatre performances is a real treat that I personally look forward to. Year after year, ABA Productions, the team behind KidsFest, manages to bring in great shows, many of which are based on popular children’s literature. In fact, many of these, like The Gruffalo in 2015 (review here) and What The Ladybird Heard in 2014 (review here) have been family favourites which we have on our bookshelves. This shouldn’t be surprising, since one of the aims of KidsFest is to nurture a child’s interest in literature and the arts. And you know what? It works. Time and again I’ve seen my children start to read or re-read books after watching a production of the same story. There’s nothing like watching a story come to life literally right before your eyes to make one want to delve into a book to re-live it!

The line-up for this year is rather intriguing, primarily because there are four productions from books we know well, and two that are new to us. (Can you guess which?)

The Gruffalo . Room on the Broom . Snow Child
Little Red Riding Hood . I Believe in Unicorns
Aliens Love Underpants

Of the stories that are new to me, I was most intrigued by Michael Morpurgo’s I Believe in Unicorns. Michael Morpurgo has been on my radar for a while but despite that, I had not, until recently, had the opportunity to pick up any of this award-winning author’s books. So I was frankly very grateful to be gifted a copy of I Believe In Unicorns ahead of this upcoming production. I admit it — I took the book and read it in one sitting before the kids managed to get near it!

I Believe in Unicorns is told from the perspective of 8-year old Tomas Porec, a boy who hates school, hates books and hates stories. One day, he is forced by his mother to visit the library. There he meets the Unicorn Lady with the ability to tell wonderful stories, and this changes his perspective on these things forever.

I picked this up for bedtime reading and Noey was immediately enthralled. He certainly very tickled that one of the central stories told by the Unicorn Lady was none other than that of Noah’s Ark, albeit a different version from that which, as Christians, we know to be true from the Bible. It made an interesting point of discussion for us as we considered this version of the story against the biblical version. But Michael Morpurgo is a gifted storyteller, and from the first page, he not so much writes as paints simply and yet so vividly in with his words that you can’t help but to be drawn in.  I don’t want to give too much away, but suffice to say, both Noey and I enjoyed the book and its message of the power of books and stories to transform lives very much.

I am very curious as to how I Believe in Unicorns will be translated to the stage. From the production images, it certainly looks like it would be quite an adventure! Those many different books look really amazing! This production in fact won an Argus Angel Award for Artistic Excellence at the Brighton Festival and promises to spark imagination in both young and old.

KidsFest 2016 is set to kick off in just 3 days time on 21 Jan 2016. Don’t forget to get your tickets to I Believe in Unicorns and the other exciting KidsFest productions soon before they run out!

I Believe in Unicorns
Ticketing and Show Information

Season:  4 to 7 February 22016 (No show on 5 Feb)
Venue:  SOTA Drama Theatre
Performance Times: Thurs 4 Feb 5pm, Sat 6 Feb 3pm and 5.15pm, Sun 7 Feb 10am and 12.15pm
Ticket Prices: $62, $52, $42
Duration: Approx 50 mins
Booking through Sistic: http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/uni0216 or call 6348-5555

GIVEAWAY!

Great news for all blog readers: I have a FAMILY PACKAGE OF 4 CATEGORY 1 TICKETS (worth $248 in total) to I Believe in Unicorns to giveaway! These tickets are for the show on Thursday 4 February 2016 at 5pm. Please note that the date and time of the tickets cannot be changed and the show is recommended for children aged 6 and up.

To enter this giveaway, simply complete the following:

1. Like the KidsFest Facebook Page

2. Like the Life is in the Small Things Facebook Page

3. Like and share this post on Facebook and tag 3 friends. Do remember to set your post to public so I can verify your entry!

4. Leave a comment on this blog post telling me why you would like to win these tickets. Please remember to use a working e-mail address so I can contact you if you win!

That’s it! This draw will close at 11.59pm on 29 Jan 2016 and is open to Singapore residents only. The rest of the usual terms and conditions apply.

—– RESULTS! —–
(Drawn 30 Jan 2016)

And the winner is… Veron TG! Congratulations!